Todd Rundgren - Box O' Todd (2016) 320kbps

3-CD set Box O’ Todd draws exclusively on radio broadcasts of Rundgren’s early years, with concerts from 1971, 1972 and 1973.

The first disc features highlights from his hometown show from Philadelphia’s legendary Sigma Sound Studios as originally broadcast on WMMR-FM. In addition to early Rundgren ballad favorites such as “Believe in Me,” “Be Nice to Me” and “It Wouldn’t Have Made Any Difference,” the performance features Todd sharing the spotlight with guitarist Tommy Cosgrove for his songs “Lady on the Terrace” and “Everybody in the Congregation.” Drummer/vocalist Norman Smart sings the Rundgren/Moogy Klingman song “Tonight I Wanna Love Me a Stranger,” and the concert also features covers including Bobby Charles’ “Before I Grow Too Old,” Smokey Robinson and the Miracles’ “Ooo Baby Baby,” and an excerpt of The Beatles’ “Hold Me Tight.” Excerpts from this show have been previously issued including, most recently, a few tracks on Edsel’s Runt/Runt: The Ballad of Todd Rundgren two-fer.

Disc Two of this set features the May 2, 1972 concert at Hempstead, New York’s Ultrasonic Studios. In addition to Jim Lang, Stu Woods and Tommy Cosgrove (who reprises “Lady on the Terrace”), this show featured Todd backed by the mime/rock unit The Hello People. The group performs some of their own material including “So Good to Be Alive.” The set features a very early performance of “A Dream Goes On Forever” as well as staples such as “It Wouldn’t Have Made Any Difference” and “I Saw the Light.”

The third and final disc is taken from Cincinnati’s Counterpart Studios on November 11, 1973 as originally broadcast on WKRQ-FM and features Utopia. Besides Something/Anything classics “Hello, It’s Me,” “Black Maria,” “I Saw the Light” and “It Wouldn’t Have Made Any Difference,” the broadcast features Todd’s cover of Gilbert and Sullivan’s “Lord Chancellor’s Nightmare Song” and Utopia’s “Utopia Theme” and excerpts from the epic “The Ikon.”

CD 1 Live from Philadelphia 1971
Banter & Soundcheck
Believe In Me
Lady On The Terrace
I Got My Pipe
It Wouldn’t Have Made Any Difference
Rock All Over Again
Everybody In The Congregation
Broke Down & Busted
Tonight I Wanna Love Me A Stranger
Ooh Baby Baby
Hold Me Tight (Excerpt)
Before I Grow Too Old
Be Nice To Me
I’m Feelin’ Better
The Ballad (Denny & Jean)

CD 2 Ultrasonic Studios 1972
Broke Down & Busted
Georgia Swing
Outside Love
Piss Aaron
A Dream Goes On Forever
I Saw The Light
It Wouldn’t Have Made Any Difference
Feels So Good to Be Alive
Mad Red Ant Lady
Blaze
Lady On The Terrace
Slut

CD 3 Counterpart Studios Cincinnati 1973
Intro
I Saw The Light
A Dream Goes On Forever
Piss Aaron
Lord Chancellor’s Nightmare Song
Hello It’s Me
Banter
Utopia Theme
Black Maria
Hungry For Love
The Ikon (Segments)